December 12

Today's quotation:

The secret of success is this:  there's no secret of success.

Elbert Hubbard

Today's Meditation:

The most important message of all concerning success is that since each one of us will define success and determine success based on our individual wants, needs, and callings, there simply can be no secret that encompasses everyone.  There are certain principles that one can follow to achieve great numbers of sales or high grades in school or even healthy relationships, but the idea of success is such a unique idea for each of us that there's no way that there can be a secret of success that will work for everyone.

And that's not a negative thing to say.  Our uniqueness is one of our greatest assets; our individuality is one of the things that's most worthy of celebrating in this life of ours.  So why should we imagine that there can be one path to success, one secret that applies to everyone?

If I want to be successful, then I must follow my heart.  But following my heart may keep me earning much less money than following my logic would--but are my accomplishments any less valuable because of that?  I can be successful on my own terms, following my own muses, but not following any secret that's been passed on from someone else.

Perhaps the point that Elbert may be trying to make, in different words, is that "there's no set of rules that will guarantee success."  Or perhaps he's saying that everything that we need to succeed in the world is already before us and within us, and that it isn't any secret at all.

No matter how we read his words, though, it's important to keep in mind that the only true success is the success that comes from us following our hearts, our consciences, and our passions.  Such success will be the most gratifying of all, and the most long-lasting.

Questions to consider:

How many people try to sell us their secrets to success?  What kinds of success do they usually promise?

Why do so many people feel that there has to be a "secret" that can make us successful?

How do you define success in your life?

For further thought:

People succeed because they believe,
not only that they can and will succeed,
but also that success is worth the price they pay for it.

Tom Hopkins

   

  

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